Reub's journey

26 April 2013

At the rodeo


 Wading through images saved on the external hard drive, I was searching for subject matter to use in a drawing class. What fun to come across rodeo pics off of John's camera as he was learning to use it a few years back:


The rodeo is a spectacle, but never more so than in the final minutes when they let loose all of the broncs in a dusty, spirited stampede that swerves in a wild gallop around the arena. It is breath taking. I love pictures of horses.


But there were lots of shots to admire. Flipping through photos shot in continuous drive mode:

 Team steer-roping: they're going full speed. How do those hats stay on?



 Down goes one cowboy, tackling the steer. His hat stays put.



 The tricky steer puts on the brakes.



 This causes the cowboy to miss completely.



 Although his hat and sunglasses never move from his head. Pretty cool.




 The rodeo clown has the most dangerous job: keeping an enraged bull from goring his downed rider.




 I don't remember if there's a cowboy inside that barrel, but personally I'd rather be in there...




 ...than out here.




 Rodeo clowns get paid quite a bit of money to do this. Don't worry, he's fine.




 See? Back on his feet in the next shot.




 The bull stops being so mad. And wow, the cowboy clown keeps that hat on the whole time. Amazing!




14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yes. Cowboys have lots of aches and pains. Rodeo is awfully hard on the body.

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  2. These are incredible action shots. Just wonderful.

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    1. Aren't they cool? I should have brought up the exposure, done some cropping, etc., but they aren't my pics. I like them. Rodeos are a feast for the senses.

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  3. Mercy! What a dust-up that was! LOVE the first pic of all the horses. Lots of great action here.

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    1. I love that pic of horses too. John has some other amazing shots of the stampede & it was hard to choose.

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  4. I love the rodeo and haven't seen one in ages, other than on television. Your photos capture all the best moments. I have never seen the horse stampede at the end and would find my heart beating fast at such a sight. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. The stampede is a trademark of this particular rodeo, but it seems like it's something that might also be done elsewhere? I don't know, maybe not, b/c I haven't seen it at other rodeos either. It is adrenaline-producing.

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  5. Oddly, I love going to a rodeo. I say oddly because I rarely go or even have the opportunity. By having grown up in Colorado, rodeo's there have a romance and energy that is pretty appealing. Great photos!!

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    1. You're from Colorado? No wonder you like rodeos. They really do have an old West feel to them. At least the rodeos around here do.

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  6. Replies
    1. That's what I thought too, but I can't see them in the photos. Invisible chin straps?

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  7. Replies
    1. :) I always envy your NYC shots, but then I remember there are unique things about this place.

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